Phantom Limb

I step out of the bright september sunshine into Yolanda’s welcoming arms. The boys are a little more circumspect with their greetings. This is Phantom Limb, a Bristol based band that I have come to photograph for the day. We walk up the stairs to the ‘Robot’ studio, which is appropriately full of robots (little toy ones). We have a quick chat about the ensuing day. Most of which revolves around where we can get the best sandwiches for lunch. Then we set off up Park St, avoiding the sunny side of the street, so that we stop bumping into, and chatting to, the entire population of Bristol, whom the band seem to know. Shooting starts outside St Georges Church and then we move onto a small bohemian bar at the top of Park St. Being a band, the first thing we do is order drinks. After this we set up the first shot.

We rattle through this shot at a fair pace and then move onto the next one. We shoot this in a small back room, where I get them all to fall back onto a bench, and onto one another. This is a decided failure. They all look squashed and uncomfortable and mostly have their eyes closed. In the end they all squeeze onto the bench and we start shooting. The room is almost completely dark so I can hardly see what I am shooting. I have to check my computer screen each time I take a shot until I get what I want. In the end I prefer the shots where they are standing up.

For the last shot we leave the bar (after another whiskey) and head up to the park. The whole of Bristol seems to be out drinking in the sun, and listening to their ‘ghetto blasters’. It is 27 degrees and bright evening sunshine so we go for a bit of 70’s style backlighting.

Matt has to leave so we finish the shoot here. I head back into town with the rest of the band. We have one last sandwich, and then Caro drops me back at Temple Meads for the return leg of my journey. All in all it was a great day spent with a lovely bunch of people. Listen out for their new album early next year.